Crate



(N o Model.)

J. M. ALDERFER. CRATE.

N0.600,8Z1.1 Patented Mar. 15,1898.

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THO cams Pawns co, PHOTO-LHHO WASHINGTON, u c.

- the crate expanded and the cover in place;

JOHN ALDERFER, OF SHARON CENTRE, OHIO.

CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 600,821, dated March15, 189B.

Application filed April 3, 1897 Serial No. 630,502- (No model.) V

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN M. ALDERFER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sharon Centre, in the county of Medina and State of Ohio,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Crates, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention has relation to improvements in crates in which fruits andvegetables are placed for shipment or temporary storage, and it hasespecial relation to that class of crates that are susceptible of beingpartially folded or collapsed for economy of space in shipment orstorage when empty.

The object of my invention is to produce a new and improved crate of theclass specified and to secure strength in the ends to prevent the weightof the load tearing apart the pieces of which the crate is constructedwhen it is lifted and provide an improved method of attaching andlocking the bottom and cover in place. 7

To the aforesaid objects my invention consists in the peculiar and novelconstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafterdescribed, and then specifically pointed out in the claims, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference-numeralsindicate like parts in the different views, Figure l is a plan of Fig.2, an end elevation; Fig. 3, a side elevation; Fig. 4, an inverted planof the bottom; Fig. 5, a view of the upper portion of one corner; Fig.6, a plan of the body of the crate partially collapsed; and Fig. 7, avertical longitudinal' section, enlarged, of the complete crate at theline 00 w of Fig. 1.

Referring to the figures, 1 1 are the sides, which consist each of twoupright slats 2 2, to which are fastened cross-slats, the upper andlower 3 3 being thicker than the intermediate ones and extending beyondthem at each end.

Each end of the crate consists of two heavy sticks 4 5, preferablysquare, united near their ends by vertical slats 6 6, these latter beingunited near their upper ends by a crossslat 7, and shorter intermediateslats 8 8 unite the slat 7 and stick 5,, thus leaving a hand-space underthe stick 4. The ends of the upper and lower slat-s 3 of the sides restadjacent to and outside the ends of the sticks upward through the holesin the sticks 5, 3, I

3, and 4, and are bent lengthwise along the top of the latter toward thecenter from each end, and the ends are made fast by being bent down anddriven into the stick 4. By this arrangement the sides and ends arepractically hinged together at the corners of the crate, so that thebody thus formed can be collapsed, the two sides swinging toward eachother, as shown in Fig. 6, while the open space under the upper stick ofthe ends affords space, so that the stick can be grasped by the hand,and the wire serves to take the strain from the wooden parts.

The bottom 10 consists of longitudinal and cross slats, the latter beingbeneath and arranged to abut the bars 5 of the ends and the longer onesresting on said bars, and on its under face is a slat 11, pivoted to oneof the longer slats and adapted to swing across under the lower sidebars 3 and lock the bottom in place.

The top 12 consists of cross-slats 13 of such length as to rest at eachend on the upper bars 3 of the sides and longitudinal slats 14, attachedto the cross-slats, the cross-slats 13 being slightly closer togetherthan the sticks 4, and the slats 14 longer than the space between thesticks 4. In one of the slats 14 is an opening 15, in which fits awedgeshaped key 16, and in placing the top in position the,

ends of slats containing the opening 15 are inserted under the adjacentupper bar4 and the cover dropped down on the crate. It is then pusheduntil its opposite end passes under the opposite bar 4 and until itsfurther progress is arrested by the adjacent slat 13 meeting thecross-slat 14, when the key 16 is inserted in the opening 15 and the topsecurely locked in place.

When it is desired to fold the crate, the top and bottom are removed andplaced edgewise in the body. The latter is then collapsed, as

shown in Fig. 6, and held by hooks 17, pivot ally attached to the upperand lower bars of one side, entering corresponding eyes 18 in theopposite side.

I claim as my invention 1. In a collapsible crate-body, the combinationwith sides and ends composed of longitudinal slats fastened to endposts, the upper and lower slats of each extended beyond theintermediate slats and end posts 5 the extended side slats arranged torest against and between the extended end slats, and the extended endsvertically perforated in alinement at each corner of the body; of singlemetallic rods, each having its central portion resting along the bottomof one of the lower end slats,and the ends passed upward through saidperforated ends and fastened to the top of the corresponding upper endslat, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a collapsible crate the combination with sides and ends composedof longitudinal slats fastened to end posts, the upper and lower slatsof each extended beyond the intermediate slats and end posts; theextended side slats arranged to rest against and between the extendedend slats; the extended ends vertically perforated in alinement at eachcorner of the body; and single metallic rods, each having its centralportion resting along the bottom of one of the lower end slats, and theends passed upward through said perforated ends and fastened to the topof the corresponding upper end slat; of a bottom consisting oflengthwise and cross slats the latter being beneath and arranged to abutagainst the lower slats of the ends, and the former to rest on saidslats, and a strip to constitute a bottom, pivoted to the under side ofone of the longitudinal slats and adapted to swing and have its endsenter beneath the lower side strips to lock the bottom in place; and acover adapted to slide under the upper end slats, composed oflongitudinal and end slats, the longitudinal slats arranged to slideunder the upper end slats, a keyhole in one of said longitudinal slats,and a key adapted to enter said hole all constructed and arrangedsubstantially as shown and for the purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I hereunto set my hand.

JOHN M. ALDERFER.

In presence of O. P. I-IUMPHREY, G. E. HUMPHREY.

